Is Pickleball the Fountain of Youth?
Turns out staying young might just involve a paddle
We’ve all felt it—those post-game endorphins, the sore-but-satisfied legs, the lingering grin after a good rally. And somewhere in that moment, you’ve probably thought: “I don’t feel my age.”
Enter biological age testing—a buzzy new frontier in longevity science that claims to measure not how many candles are on your cake, but how “old” your body really is. Instead of looking at the date on your license, these tests analyze blood or saliva to estimate the wear and tear happening at the cellular level.
The promise? A personalized glimpse into your healthspan, and maybe a little ego boost to post on Instagram: Biological age: 47. Real age: 58. Pickleball for the win.
What These Tests Claim to Do
Biological age tests, particularly the popular DNA methylation ones (aka “epigenetic clocks”), measure chemical tags on your DNA that shift predictably with age and lifestyle. Scientists use algorithms to estimate how fast—or slow—your body’s aging relative to your calendar age. The idea is that playing more pickleball and eating fewer donuts might actually show up in your results.
And the science behind it? Solid-ish. Research suggests these clocks can predict disease risk and lifespan better than just knowing your age. They've been linked to diet, exercise, smoking, and more. So yes, a few extra games at the net could hypothetically move your number in the right direction.
But Should You Actually Take One?
Here’s the tricky part: for individuals, these tests are still more novelty than diagnostic. One 2022 study showed the same person could get results that varied by nine years depending on which sample was analyzed. That’s the difference between smugly booking a yoga retreat—or texting your doctor in a panic.
Add in the lack of industry standards, secret sauce algorithms, and wide variation in results depending on the provider, and you’ve got a $500 guess wrapped in science-y language.
So What Actually Works?
Spoiler: the same stuff your grandma (and your trainer) has been telling you for years. A healthy diet, regular movement, solid sleep, and time with friends have more data behind them than any methylation test. And pickleball? It checks a lot of those boxes.
Movement? Constant.
Joy? Built-in.
Social connection? Doubles partners, post-game chats, and maybe a flirt or two at open play.
Stress relief? You’ve seen someone smash a ball down the middle, right?
So while it’s fun to see a low biological age pop up in your inbox, don’t get too caught up. The most meaningful markers of vitality might be how quick your hands still are—or how many games you can play before someone says, “Let’s grab lunch.”
Skip the test. Hit the court. That’s your real anti-aging plan.
